Hello All the Gurus in the House!!!!

This question is specifically directed to the Gurus Abroad. Please what means do you think is the cheapest to make calls from USA to Nigeria. (Note: My family do not have access to good internet connection in Nigeria). I have been surfing the internet and I came across calleasy, nonoh, google voice, viber, skype, rebtel but I will like to hear from the gurus.

Secondly, is it better to change Naira to Dollar before travelling at the Bank or the Black market? If the former is the best please what are the processes involved? I am currently debating this issue with my parents.

[font=Lucida Sans Unicode]Hello bbdd thanks for all your support and guide please check your account on Gradcafe I responded to your message. Apology for the delay in reply I have been so busy with medical examinations, immunizations and vaccinations especially that MMR vaccinations coupled with some compulsory online training on research ethics for all incoming Ph.D. students. I am already feeling the workload even before traveling. Please read the message and get back to me bro.

Quick Question to the Gurus in the House

I received an alert that my visa is ready for pickup. However, I don't have any government issued Photo ID to collect the passport at the DHL Office. Unfortunately, the INEC guys refused to give me my PVC may be it could have been useful now. I am planning to submit a copy of my appointment letter, photocopy of my passport, and a government issued certificate of state of origin. Will the above documents be accepted from me as a proof to colelct my passport and visa. bbdd and other gurus in the house I will be expecting your reply

bbdd:
VISA INTERVIEW TIPS
As seen from the numerous success stories.....
Know what you're saying, be confident, have no red flags and sketchy history, WRITE STANDARDIZED TESTS, know why you chose the school and there's no reason you should be denied unless the people in your village are working overtime.

May we get more testimonies on this part 7 !!!

Hahahaha bbdd you are funny ooo. Even if the people in their village are working overtime, they will surely get the visa with confidence, no red flags and sketchy history. God pass them.

ddammyrajitola:


It was true, I was there, u were going when they called u to wait for one old woman. I was like the 5th person behind u
I liked the way u were so confidence and the ascent u used... dat dark small girl wicked sha.
It was the window 3 I went, and was also approved.
Congratulations.

Congratulations ddammyrajitola. It is just the favour of God and the interview tips from the gurus in the house. BTW which university will you be attending?

Visa Success Story US Consulate Lagos (Interview with the Black American Lady Window 4 on 26th May 2015 6:30am)

So finally today my US visa was approved. Thanks be to God and all the Gurus in the house for their wonderful support most especially bbdd. Here is my story and transcript. I arrived the consulate as early as 5:28 am and to my surprise I met a very long queue. After all the screening we finally reached the judgement centre. While I was on the queue I was paying close attention to all the questions of the VO's and the reply of those being interviewed. I am so grateful I came to this forum before the interview. Window 4 with the black american lady is the window of visa denial. The first four people the lady interviewed were all denied. I made a quick count of the people on the row and I discovered that I might fall under window 4. After the first four denial, the black american lady finally approved the next two student visas. At this point, I became relaxed and my mind was deep in prayer. I noticed that the two students that got their visas before me have previously travelled to the US and they studied in the UK may be for masters. Now, it is my turn my calculation was wrong the next available window is window 3 and I was about to proceed when suddenly the staff from CGI stopped me and he told me I should allow one of the aged women sitting to be interviewed. Window 4 is now free and I am about to face the black american lady

VO: Hello
Me: Good Morning
VO: Can I have your documents please?
Me: I passed it to her
VO: Okay so you are going to Rice University for a PhD
Me: Yes
VO: How did you hear about Rice University?
Me: I met Professor D.B. from Rice University during my masters degree in the UK. He came for a visiting fellowship and I
communicated with him about my interest in working under his supervision for my PhD and he advised me to apply after my masters.
VO: So are you going to Rice because of the Professor?
Me: The Professor is actually the main driving force for my selection of Rice. I have co-authored two academic papers with him and I see him
as a perfect fit for the success of my research at the graduate school
VO: When did you finish your masters?
Me: 2013
VO: In what field was your masters?
Me: Politics and International Relations
VO: So how related is a PhD in Religion with Politics and International Relations?
Me: My PhD research is targeted towards understanding the intersection of religion and international relations and how religion specifically
shape events in the international system. I am particularly interested in uncovering how religious identities in the Middle East and North
Africa shape the evolution of religious ideologies in Northern Nigeria.
VO: So how many schools did you apply?
Me: Three schools
VO: Name them?
Me: Rice University, Northwestern University and University of Wisconsin-Madison
VO: So why are you so interested in Rice?
Me: I am more interested in Rice because the university offers support for teaching assistanship and summer language program which are both
important for the PhD training in my field.
VO: So who is funding you for the program?
Me: I am on a full scholarship. I was awarded a full tuition waiver and an annual stipend of $21,000
VO: Okay, you can pick up your visa at the collection centre I circled on this form in three days time. Congrats and best of luck
Me: Thank you

The VO did not ask for any documents. I am so grateful to God for the confidence he bestowed upon me. I came out of the embassy and I hurriedly hugged my mother and straight off we drove home in jubilation. I believe it is important to demonstrate full preparedness for what you intend to study to the VO in order to be able to convince them Best of luck

innovativeame:

Bro, you could as well tell the VO that u applied to more than two schools, however, as at when you wrote your GRE you had not made up your mind on the schools. That you later sent the scores to these schools. If I had applied to 6 schools for example, will these schools all appear on my GRE scorecard? Obviously, NO! Just be wise and proactive. #Just a suggestion though#

Thanks for all your reply. I think I am quite satisfied with the reply of innovativeame. I just pray that the VO will be convinced with all my answers. Cheers

profojah:

But bbdd, what if the VO ask for his GRE scorecard and found out he only applied to one school?

This was exactly the question I was about to ask bbdd. What if I mention two or more schools and then she requested for my GRE scorecard and discover that I applied to only one school> Do you think my reply for the reason I choose one school is not going to be convincing enough? Secondly, pls answer my question about the timing for the interview. Will it commence at exactly 6:30 am

Questions about the Visa Interview

My visa interview is 6:30 am. Of course, I will be there as early as 5:45 but I want to inquire about the exact time the interview will commence. Secondly, I have rehearsed different questions and my family are so helping me in the rehearsal just like they did when I was preparing for IELTS Speaking Test. However, I am stuck with one question 'How many schools did you apply'? I actually applied to only one university which is Rice University. I was referred to a Professor in the school for Ph.D supervision by the two supervisors who supervised my masters thesis in the UK one Professor from King's College University of London and one Professor from Keele University. In addition, I conducted a survey of over 100 universities in the US but it was only the Professor at Rice University that share exactly the same research interests with me. I started communicating with the Professor I yr and 3 months before I officially submitted my application. Although I was quite optimistic I would get in because of my convincing statement of purpose and excellent writing sample but my hope was almost dashed after I wrote the GRE exam. After preparing for the exam for about 5 months, I ended up with 151 Verbal, 150 Quant and 3.0 AW. Notwithstanding my poor performance, the Professor told me to apply and he spoke quite confidently that I would get in based on other criteria. I finally got in and I started a 2 yr research project immediately with the Professor which I would hopefully conclude as a Rice graduate student. In a nutshell, when the VO ask me the question 'How many schools did you apply'? My answer would be I applied to only one university Rice university because I was referred to a Professor at the university by the supervisors that supervised my Masters thesis in the UK and also because my research fit neatly with the research of my Ph.D supervisor at Rice University. Any comments do you all think this answer is satisfactory enough for any soft or harsh VO? Although I pray to meet a soft VO. bbdd and others I need your comment.

I hail all the Gurus in the House. I am a neophyte on this forum, but I recognize bbdd from GradCafe. bbdd this is AfricanScholar congratulations on your visa approval. My visa interview is on the 26th May I wish myself and others the best. Although I was awarded a full scholarship (full tuition waiver and an annual stipend for 6 yrs) for my Ph.D at Rice University Houston Texas, but I must state here that all the transcripts I have read so far reveal one thing to me that visa approval is just by God's favour. When I did my masters in the UK, I enjoyed the luxury of Commonwealth Shared Scholarship so visa processing was so easy no interview, no qualms at all. My interview is 6:30 am in Lagos and like bbdd I pray not to go back home with my passport that day because by the grace of God the VO must say yes. The journey to this stage has been so rough and tough, but the prescient light I always visualize at the end of the tunnel has made the testimony to be sweeter. On this forum, I look forward to offering important tips for those applying for Ph.D and hopefully seeking for financial aid. From my experience, although your credentials must be appealing but it is really about selling yourself and demonstrating your potentials to Professors. It will be unwise for you to apply to departments where you did not communicate with their Professors before hand though you might be lucky to get in but in most cases you might end up just wasting the application fee. Communicating with Professors before hand is a crucial step for Ph.D admission and funding. I wish the whole house best of luck we will all excel. Cheers